Medicine of Immortality "It's a cold, and it's a broken, 'Hallelujah!'"

Smalcald Articles on BaptismPosted by Rick on December 9th, 2003

Baptism is nothing else than the Word of God in the water, commanded by His institution, or, as Paul says, a washing in the Word; as also Augustine says: Let the Word come to the element, and it becomes a Sacrament. And for this reason we do not hold with Thomas and the monastic preachers [or Dominicans] who forget the Word (God’s institution) and say that God has imparted to the water a spiritual power, which through the water washes away sin. Nor [do we agree] with Scotus and the Barefooted monks [Minorites or Franciscan monks], who teach that, by the assistance of the divine will, Baptism washes away sins, and that this ablution occurs only through the will of God, and by no means through the Word or water. Of the baptism of children we hold that children ought to be baptized. For they belong to the promised redemption made through Christ, and the Church should administer it [Baptism and the announcement of that promise] to them.

Martin Luther; Smalcald Articles III.5

All I Want for Christmas is some Papal BullsPosted by Rick on December 9th, 2003

I’m in one of those frustrated moods. Finals start today. Nathan comes in on Friday, but I just realized how stupid his flight schedule is. I’m listening to Belle and Sebastian (Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying), and it’s the only thing that’s keeping me sane.

Ever felt like you’re in a boiling pot of water, and you see a beautiful green field in the distance? All you have to do is climb out of the pot. It’s not that deep. Just climb out. No, you have commitments to the boiling water.

Okay, shift gears (honestly, I really am shifting gears here, so don’t get any ideas). Did you read the letter from Gerald Tritle on why he went from Presbyterian to Roman Catholic? He had some pretty darn good reasons. Now, I admit he had some pretty sad logic and I think he’s leaving boiling water for dog doo, but nonetheless, I understand some of the reasons he’s attracted to Rome. They’re some of the same reasons I am attracted to Lutheranism…not to say that I think Lutheranism has it all together. It doesn’t. But here are a few snippets.

After much thought and prayer, I have come to the conclusion that I and my family wish to seek a broader communion of Gods covenant people in this world. For your information, we are pleased to join the communion of the Roman Church for the following brief reasons:

The major reforms of Roman Catholicism since the 16th century, especially those of Vatican II. The fervent love for Christ and His word (yes, even His commandments) exhibited by Roman Catholic Churches. The Churchs pursuit of righteousness, peace, and joy toward one another and toward others outside of her communion. This represents a wonderful, God-glorifying phenomenon rarely experienced (by me at least) in modern Protestantism My desire for a firm and historically-embraced baseline of Christianity that embraces both the Son and the Father (including the ecumenical creeds we currently embrace as Protestants). My personal disheartening over Protestantisms continued splintering and ecclesiastical inability to labor together. My familys desire to co-labor among a multitude of saints in a biblical, vibrant, historical, and community-entrenched church so as to glorify God and enjoy Him. Broad and vast opportunities to do good toward many Christian saints and toward those outside who are in need.

I don’t agree that the Roman Church does all those things perfectly, or even well, or well, even at all. But I do understand why he desires those things. I often wonder what it would be like to again be a part of a communion that takes seriously the need to serve the community.

Tritle continues,

In my opinion, God instituted great and necessary reforms in Romanism by means of the Protestant Reformation. That great revival was not meant to perpetuate escalating divisiveness among those who name the name of Christ. Yet, that is what I am seeing and can foresee for decades to come. This confirms the fears of many 16th century members of the Roman Churchs conciliatory movement that Protestants would splinter themselves into oblivion.

sigh Even the best Protestants have splintered themselves into oblivion. Continuing on, Tritle says,

My protesting days are over. I am not spending my life fighting my brethren who are obsessed with arguments over words or narrowly defined dogmas. The entire Protestant movement identifies itself in terms of protest and ecclesiastical division vs. the church which is safeguarding the deposit of faith presented in the Scriptures. Yes, the Roman Catholic Church is reforming still, even by admission of Pope John Paul II. I’m willing to work toward that end as a member of the Church vs. trying to reform the church from the outside. How would we ever know when our protesting is done? When every Roman Catholic becomes a member of the Presbyterian Church, the Baptist Church, the Pentecostal Church? Let’s be rational.

I think he has some flawed logic there when he says, “I’m willing to work toward that end as a member of the Church vs. trying to reform the church from the outside.” However, it does seem pretty silly for us to continue to go by the name of Protestant…unless that’s really how we want to define ourselves. Division. Protest. groan

Who? What? How?Posted by Rachel on December 9th, 2003

Another thing that I noticed as I was reading through all the passages I’d found (in my below post) was that the thing or person that saved was referred to as many different things. We’re saved by grace (Eph. 2:5). We’re saved by baptism (1 Peter 3:21). We’re saved by a living faith (James 2:14). We’re saved by Jesus (Matt. 1:21, 1 Tim 1:15). We’re saved by people (1 Cor. 7:16, 9:22, 1 Tim 4:16, James 5:20). We’re saved by the word (James 1:21). Do any of these passages deny that salvation comes ultimately from God? I strongly doubt it. The language that certain things/people save is completely Scriptural and not any contradiction to the fact that we’re saved by Christ’s blood.

Can we say “malnutrition”?Posted by Rachel on December 8th, 2003

Rick: “Man. All I’ve eaten today is 6 doughnut holes.”
Rachel: “Huh. I had a pickle and a glass of root beer.”

We should be able to keep the monthly food budget low, at least.

Save, Saved, Salvation, Saves …Posted by Rachel on December 8th, 2003

I did a New Testament word search for all the forms of the word “save” that I could think of.

The italicized verses are the ones that do not clarify whether or not the salvation is eternal. Some verses may imply that it is not necessarily eternal, where others may imply that it could be eternal. Either way, all of them seem to be speaking of “spiritual salvation” – remission of sins, union with Christ, newness of life, etc. There are some instances when the “salvation” spoken of is Christ Himself (such as when Simeon looked upon Christ as a baby and said “For my eyes have seen Your salvation” Luke 2:30).

The underlined verses are those that are definitely not talking about any sort of eternal salvation, but about physical salvation (from storms, sicknesses, etc.)

The bold verses are the ones that I think are referring to eternal salvation. There is a theme in these verses: the necessity of perseverance. Just something I noticed as I was reading through them.

If I’ve misread any of these verses and you think they’d fit in a different category than the one I put them in, let me know.

If I counted correctly, there are 80 verses that are ambiguous as to whether the salvation spoken of will be a persevering, eternal salvation. There are 24 verses referring to other kinds of salvation (physical, etc.), and there are 13 that definitely seem to imply eternal salvation.

Matthew: 1:21; 8:25; 10:22; 14:30; 16:25; 18:11; 19:25; 24:13, 22; 27:40, 42, 49

Mark: 3:4; 8:35; 10:26; 13:13; 13:20; 15:30-31; 16:16

Luke: 1:69, 71, 77; 2:30; 3:6; 6:9; 7:50; 8:12; 9:24, 56; 13:23; 17:19; 18:26; 19:9-10; 23:35, 37, 39

John: 3:17; 4:22; 5:34; 10:9; 12:27; 12:47

Acts: 2:21; 2:40; 2:47; 4:12; 7:25; 11:14; 13:26, 47; 14:9; 15:1, 11; 16:17; 16:30-31; 27:20, 31, 43; 28:28

Romans: 1:16; 5:9-10; 8:24; 9:27; 10:1, 9-10, 13; 11:11, 14, 26; 13:11

1 Corinthians: 1:18, 21; 3:15; 5:5; 7:16; 9:22; 10:33; 15:2

2 Corinthians: 1:6; 2:15; 6:2; 7:10

Ephesians: 1:13; 2:5, 8; 6:17

Philippians: 1:28; 2:12

1 Thessalonians: 2:16; 5:8-9

2 Thessalonians: 2:10, 13

1 Timothy: 1:15; 2:4, 15; 4:16

2 Timothy: 1:9; 2:10; 3:15

Titus: 2:11; 3:5

Hebrews 1:14; 2:3, 10; 5:7, 9; 6:9; 7:25; 9:28

James: 1:21; 2:14; 4:12; 5:15, 20

1 Peter: 1:5, 9-10; 2:2; 3:21; 4:18

2 Peter: 3:15

Jude: 1:3, 5, 23

Revelation: 7:10; 12:10; 19:1

I’ve become my momPosted by Rick on December 8th, 2003

Growing up, I’d always ask my mom what she wanted for Christmas. She always said socks. It made me frustrated every year. I wanted to get her something nice, but she always just said socks. Today, I realized all the things I wanted for Christmas, and my mom’s answer finally makes sense. My Christmas list:

1. Long white socks
2. Underwear
3. Black T-shirts
4. Slippers
5. Haggar Comfort Fit Trousers
6. Books from my wishlist

Seeing socks and underwear on my Christmas list is horribly depressing.

Another ThoughtPosted by Rachel on December 7th, 2003

Why is it that my accusers think “you believe in works-salvation” when I say that I believe baptism is (ordinarily) necessary unto salvation, but at the same time, they think that “praying the prayer” or having a “conversion experience” is necessary unto one’s salvation?

If I had to choose one of those things as being necessary for salvation, I’d choose the one that was actually instituted by God.

What Does Baptism Do? or I had nothing better to do than whine.Posted by Rick on December 7th, 2003

I’m wary of saying anything because the last baptism I attended caused Rachel to post her August 12th post, which in turn showed how ignorant her church is in the area of sacramental theology. And yet, I can’t help but say something. Since I’ve discussed this with my pastor, and he simply agrees to disagree, I feel I have the liberty to speak on the issue. In the baptism today, my pastor said baptism doesn’t save mechanically. True enough. But then he went on to say baptism does not save or regenerate. Then he turned around and said baptism cleanses of our sins, puts us in union with Christ, etc.

Revision: If I wasn’t clear in my original post, I’ll try again. What I was trying to say above is that I think that although my pastor said that baptism doesn’t save, I think the language he uses is often the same way the Bible often talks about salvation. For his exact comments, see the comments.

So I am left asking the question, “If that’s not salvation, what is?” Well, I know what most people’s answers would be. Salvation=Eternal union with Christ…i.e. you get to go to heaven (yeah, the resurrection is cool and all, but we don’t think that far). The problem is, their answers aren’t the same as the Bible’s answers. What is regeneration? What is salvation?

First, we need to take into account levels of theological discourse. I heard Jon Barlow wrote a good article on this, but I didn’t get a chance to read it when it was on PCANews, and I don’t know where it is now. Can someone give a link in the comments if it’s still up somewhere?

Taking these levels of discourse into account, we have to realize that a lot of the theological controversy over this issue is because proponents are speaking on a biblical theology level while opponents are speaking on a systematic theology level.

What is regeneration?

In systematic theology, regeneration refers to some point in time where God changes a man’s heart. However, it seems to me that in Scripture, the word “regeneration” (in the Greek, of course ) refers to The New Creation, into which God’s Spirit moves a person at the moment of baptism. (Matthew 19:27-30). Baptism enters one into the Regeneration. Baptism gives you a new life, a new Father, a new Family.

What about salvation?

Salvation should be even clearer. While there is certainly a perservering salvation, Scripture much more often uses the word for something more this worldly. I mean, just look up the first few times the word is used:

1. Jacobs last words, a prophecy concerning his sons.

Dan shall be a serpent by the way,
A viper by the path,
That bites the horse’s heels
So that its rider shall fall backward.
I have waited for your salvation, O Yahweh!
“Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him,
But he shall triumph at last.
Genesis 49:17-19

Here the word salvation refers to physically conquering enemies, not whether someone goes to Heaven or Hell.

2. Song of Moses

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Yahweh, and spoke, saying:

“I will sing to Yahweh, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! 2Yahweh is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3Yahweh is a man of war; Yahweh is His name.
Exodus 15: 1-3

Again, its about conquering enemies.

3. Escape from Egypt

Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, “Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”
13And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14Yahweh will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Exodus 14: 12-14
Salvation=God saving the Israelites from the Egyptians

4. Song of Moses

“But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked;

You grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Deut. 32:15

If salvation describes the state of going to heaven or Hell and there is no way in which we can lose salvation, how does Jeshurun forsake God?

5.Hannahs Song

26And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh. 27For this child I prayed, and Yahweh has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28Therefore I also have lent him to Yahweh; as long as he lives he shall be lent to Yahweh.” So they worshiped Yahweh there.
And Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in Yahweh; My horn[1] is exalted in Yahweh. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
1 Samuel 1:26-2:1

Hannah is saved from her barrenness.

6. David’s Song of Thanksgiving

34Oh, give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.[1] 35And say, “Save us, O God of our salvation; Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles, To give thanks to Your holy name, To triumph in Your praise.”
1 Chronicles 16:34-36

David is saved from the Gentiles.

7. Solomons prayer of dedication

36”When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to a land far or near; 37yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, “We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have committed wickedness’; 38and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen, and toward the temple which I have built for Your name: 39then hear from heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You. 40Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place.

41”Now therefore, Arise, O Yahweh God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O Yahweh God, be clothed with salvation, And let Your saints rejoice in goodness. 42”O Yahweh God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed; Remember the mercies of Your servant David.”2 Chronicles 6: 36-42

Here, finally, we see salvation used in a sense somewhat close to the way that we use it in our systematic theologythe forgiveness of sins.

What about election?

The word election means choice. I dont think that every time that we see the word election, we can think of it in terms of the five points. God elected David to be King. God elects people into the Church, but not all are elected to persevere, elected to Heaven. We have to look at each individual passage. I think Matthew 24:24 and 31 are two places where the word is clearly referring to those elected to Heaven.

Here’s My Christmas ListPosted by Rachel on December 3rd, 2003

1. A puppy with a red bow tied around its neck.
2. Contacts so that I can both see and look good.
3. Rosin, of course, and new violin strings.
4. Something pretty.
5. Books, good books, beautiful books, biblical books!
6. My church to love me again …

Brain circlesPosted by Rachel on December 3rd, 2003

This is how my mind has been working for the past week or so:

I buy my dress, we go to the Nutcracker Ballet, we get our Christmas tree, Nathan comes to visit, Christmas comes, we go to Oklahoma, we come back, we spend money, we plan a wedding, we get married, we live happily ever after …

And then it starts over again. Occasionally, somewhere in the middle, my mind will say, “stupid people.” Then I think about buying my dress again.